David L. Caprara

David Caprara’s research focus includes volunteerism, global development, conflict mitigation, and civil society.

In addition to his role with the Global Economy and Development program in the Brookings Institution, Caprara serves as vice president for Strategic Partnerships with the Global Peace Foundation and chair of the Building Bridges Coalition. He formerly directed Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the Corporation for National and Community Service in Washington, D.C. and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), promoting mentoring programs, asset development, homeland security and other volunteering initiatives to strengthen families and promote upward mobility.

David has travelled extensively throughout the world advancing multi-stakeholder approaches toward a “global peace corps,” including support for the launch of the Asia-Pacific Peace and Development Service Alliance and the Africa Peace Service Corps at U.N. headquarters in Asia and Africa. In 2012, he served as a Harris Wofford Global Service Fellow with Cross Cultural Solutions in Cape Town, South Africa, and as a visiting scholar at the University of Cape Town Development Policy Research Unit, assessing volunteerism and asset-development initiatives for marginalized youth.

Caprara conceived and co-directed the International Roundtable on Volunteering and Service with Points of Light Foundation, USAID, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. In 2006, he co-directed the International Conference on Faith and Service with former USA Freedom Corps Director John Bridgeland and the National Conference on Citizenship. Over 25 interfaith youth services projects were launched through this initiative in the United States, Africa and Middle East during Global Youth Service Day.

Caprara formerly served in the senior executive service as deputy assistant secretary and director, Office of Resident Initiatives, under Secretary Jack Kemp at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Subsequently, he served as director of the Virginia Governor’s Commission on Citizen Empowerment and as director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. He conceived and launched the Hands-Across-Virginia initiative, overseeing disaster volunteer efforts following severe flooding in the mountain region of the Commonwealth.

Caprara helped craft and directed the nationally acclaimed five-city “Violence-Free Zone” gang intervention initiative at the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) which led to Congressional appropriations for grassroots initiatives. He also guided successful tenant management, entrepreneurship and homeownership demonstrations for low-income Americans that led to the authorization of landmark Congressional legislation and key presidential initiatives. In addition, he developed family strengthening provisions for the White House Task Force on Disadvantaged Youth, developed nationwide state legislative policy exchanges, and co-founded the bicameral, bipartisan Congressional Empowerment Caucus.

David Caprara’s research focus includes volunteerism, global development, conflict mitigation, and civil society.

In addition to his role with the Global Economy and Development program in the Brookings Institution, Caprara serves as vice president for Strategic Partnerships with the Global Peace Foundation and chair of the Building Bridges Coalition. He formerly directed Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the Corporation for National and Community Service in Washington, D.C. and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), promoting mentoring programs, asset development, homeland security and other volunteering initiatives to strengthen families and promote upward mobility.

David has travelled extensively throughout the world advancing multi-stakeholder approaches toward a “global peace corps,” including support for the launch of the Asia-Pacific Peace and Development Service Alliance and the Africa Peace Service Corps at U.N. headquarters in Asia and Africa. In 2012, he served as a Harris Wofford Global Service Fellow with Cross Cultural Solutions in Cape Town, South Africa, and as a visiting scholar at the University of Cape Town Development Policy Research Unit, assessing volunteerism and asset-development initiatives for marginalized youth.

Caprara conceived and co-directed the International Roundtable on Volunteering and Service with Points of Light Foundation, USAID, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. In 2006, he co-directed the International Conference on Faith and Service with former USA Freedom Corps Director John Bridgeland and the National Conference on Citizenship. Over 25 interfaith youth services projects were launched through this initiative in the United States, Africa and Middle East during Global Youth Service Day.

Caprara formerly served in the senior executive service as deputy assistant secretary and director, Office of Resident Initiatives, under Secretary Jack Kemp at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Subsequently, he served as director of the Virginia Governor’s Commission on Citizen Empowerment and as director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. He conceived and launched the Hands-Across-Virginia initiative, overseeing disaster volunteer efforts following severe flooding in the mountain region of the Commonwealth.

Caprara helped craft and directed the nationally acclaimed five-city “Violence-Free Zone” gang intervention initiative at the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) which led to Congressional appropriations for grassroots initiatives. He also guided successful tenant management, entrepreneurship and homeownership demonstrations for low-income Americans that led to the authorization of landmark Congressional legislation and key presidential initiatives. In addition, he developed family strengthening provisions for the White House Task Force on Disadvantaged Youth, developed nationwide state legislative policy exchanges, and co-founded the bicameral, bipartisan Congressional Empowerment Caucus.